Readers are up in (mostly feminist) arms about a recent New York Times article by pediatrician Perri Klass entitled “Another Awkward Talk: Respect and Violence.” Dr. Klass wants all you liberal Times-reading helicopter parents to know that you need to be more honest and pro-active in teaching...

The amazing, radiant Professor Wangari Maathai. Via holisticgeek @ Flickr.As I was chillaxin’ on the couch last night (as I often do of a Tuesday), I decided to tune in to PBS, of which I am a enormous fan, and I happened upon a documentary (part of their Independent Lens series) on the remarkable...

Via TBDNYC @ Flickr.
My name is Becky. I’m 33 years old. I still sleep with a security blanket. Got a problem with that? Well, fuck you. I could care less what you think.
My blankie and I have been together for all 33 years of my existence. It was originally made by my aunt as a receiving blanket—a...

We had beautiful weather in NYC yesterday, but today?
A STORM IS GATHERING!!!
Gathering Storm
Yep, Nation for Marriage (NOM) is going to have to step up their feeble, poorly-produced efforts if they really want to keep same-sex marriage from becoming a nation-wide reality.
Because The New York Times...

Mickey also thinks this is a dumb idea. via gabriel_michael @ flickr
Disney has a conundrum. They want to make money — lots and lots of money. Luckily, they have their Disney Princesses(TM) merchandise, Miley Cyrus and Hannah Montana, The Jonas Brothers, and High School Musical all working to...

It IS the thought that counts. Via faeryboots @ Flickr.So, yesterday was my birthday (which was very very nice, thank you for asking), and among the other cards and gifts I received was a ridiculous “HAY GURL!” card from one of my aunts.
This card was actually a step up from years past,...

Please spread the word.
(Trigger Warning)
Angie Zapata, an 18 year old Colorado trans woman, was brutally murdered in July, 2008. Allen Ray Andrade, 32, admitted beating Zapata to death because he became enraged upon learning she was transgender during a date. He learned Zapata was transgender by grabbing...

Congratulations, Duggar family! The Lord has blessed you with yet another child. This time, Jim and Michelle Duggar will be watching from the sidelines, as their firstborn has done the procreation and will welcome his own child into the Quiverfull movement. In an America where gay parents cannot adopt...

I have been neglecting my Harpy duties of late in favor of a little real world activism about a charming little arthouse flick coming to a theatre near you, Observe and Report. (An excellent summary argument is here.) In essence, what I’ve been trying to do is convince people not to see it,...

These dolls all wear dresses. They will never get ahead. via cakau <3 @ flickr
If there’s anything I should know by now, it’s that people will always extrapolate wildly from studies of animals to suit their own agendas. Current case in point: Helen Rumbelow’s op-ed in the UK Times....

Entertainment Weekly pretends to honor hilarious Hollywood ladies in its list of the 25 Funniest Actresses in Hollywood, but it’s mostly a product placement slideshow advertising some new sitcoms and movies that just hit theaters.
Anna Faris’s position at the top of the list tipped me off...

The funniest satire is closest to the truth, so naturally I got a big laugh out of last week’s Onion article entitled “Renowned Hoo-Ha Doctor Wins Nobel Prize for Medical Advancement Down There,” which reads:
STOCKHOLM—In recognition of her groundbreaking work treating life- threatening...